Strip dispensing machine



I 1941- E. G. STRECKFUSS ,8

STRIP DISPENSING MACHINE Filed July 13, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet l INSURANCE i I B 11938HP6Q4 PART B PARTC INVENTOR. LME/f G: ST/PECKFUSS.

Dec. 23, 1941.

E. G. STRECKFUSS STRIP DISPENSING MACHINE Filed July 13, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N \"ENTOR. 015? 65:75am.

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Dec. 23, 1941. E. G. STRECKFUSS 2,266,825

STRIP DISPENS ING MACHINE mvsmox [Ln/4 G SIWEC/(Fl/SS.

Dec. 23, 1941- E. s. STRECKFUSS STRIP DISPENSING MACHINE Filed July 13, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. 51.44:: 6: sSTfECKFl/SS. BY

ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 1941- E. G. STRECKFUSS 2,266,825

STRIP DISPENSING MACHINE Filed July 13, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. LMER 6f LSTQECKFUSS.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 23, 1941 STRIP DISPENSING MACHINE Elmer G. Streckfuss, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The Cincinnati Time Recorder Company, Cineinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 13, 1938, Serial No. 218,000

14 Claims.

My invention relates to machines for dispensing printed strips of material, and more particularly to machines which are controlled by means of a coin of similarly required control means to issue printed slips bearing data inscribed thereon, and also bearing data imprinted thereon, with suitable interlocks so as to require a definite sequence of operations (a) of printing, (b) of enteringdata on the strip, of issuing the strip, all of said operations to follow a preliminary and controlling operation such as by insertion of a required coin.

Such machines are'useful in dispensing insurance policies covering short term accidental injuries, for example, and various efforts have been made in the past to provide such machines.

My-present machine embodies, in addition to the several factors above noted, an electrical operation without calling for manual manipulation. In order to make it certain that the date and time of issue of a policy should appear thereon, a time stamp is provided which, upon introduction of a coin, will cause the time to be stamped on a portion of the form. This takes place on a portion of the form which is in a position deflected from that portion of the form on which the operator will enter his name, The balance of the form, or at least that portion which is to be written upon, is at this portion of the cycle held over a supporting plate, and until'the time is stamped on the deflected portion of the policy the form is covered by another plate. The same operation which stamps the time moves this plate away, thus disclosing a portion of the form tobe written upon. Prior to the insertion of the coin it is impossible to feed the form out of the machine, but after its insertion, which coincides with the time stamping, the feed out mechanism is liberated. In

the electrically operated machine all that is necessary is to close a circuit which can be later used to energize the electrical feed out mechanism and to require that the operation of the feed out mechanismzbrings the switch parts back to an open position which requiresanother coin insertion for closing them.

After the operator has entered his name and other required data on the disclosed portion of the form, he can then depress a button which will cause the form to be fed out.

In the present instance, in order to retain a duplicate of the issued policy, suitable manifolding means is provided, including preferably a carbon coating on the back of the portion of the form to be time stamped and the portion of tion.

the form to be written upon, and a duplicate form is fed through .the machine and over the writing table, but retained within the machine and not issued.

This mode of operation. which could be changed to embody a coin insertion and two manual operations, is easy to accomplish mechanically and is free from opportunity for any falsification. Thus, no form can be written upon without time stamping, and no form can be issued without time stamping, and no form :can be issued without a retained duplicate form. vZBut one operation is required as distinguished from putting any part of the form back into the machine, and no movement of the form is required in order to permit of first time stamping it-and then making an entry upon it, as has been considered necessary in previous suggestions which have come to my attention.

The time stamping mechanism can be associated within a common casing with the form feeding devices and writing table without cumbersome arrangements, as would be the case if the time stamping were made on the same level and plane as the written data. The feeding devices for the paper forms can be located at the delivery or forward portion of the machine so as not to interfere with the time stamping mechanism.

Thus apart from the particular mechanical devices employed in accomplishing my object, there is a method aspect to the invention which I consider novel and patentable to me, which method is not the mere function of a machine since it could be carried out on many machines and in many different ways, both electrically and manually.

I accomplish my objects in this instance by a structure and arrangement of which an example will be illustrated in the drawings and described, the novelty inherent in which will be set forth in the claims that follow to which reference is hereby made. The time stamp per se and the paper feed per se forms no part of my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine illustrating my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 4 is a view of a typical insurance policy to be issued by the machine.

Figure 4a is a view of a printed time indica- Figure 5 is a detail of the operating button and switch on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a section on a larger scale taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 1, with the parts in idle position.

Figure 6a is a detail of the paper feed, operated interlock, and magnetic switch.

Figure 6b is a section on the line lib-6b of Figure 6.

Figure 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7 with the shutter shifted to permit writing.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the complete mechanism with the casing partially broken away.

Figure 11 is a wiring diagram.

It will be understood that the present invention is built around a time stamp, a coin controlled switch, and a paper feed and support which are available in various forms, the novel features beingthe arrangement of the same for convenient and safe issuance of and retention of copies ofsuch items as receipts, insurance forms, and the like, hearing a notation applied by the machine beyond the operators control and a notation supplied by the operator who cannot supply this without having first deposited a coin and made the machine notation. The

illustrated device being adapted to the issuance of accident insurance policies it will be so described, but without intention to limit the applicability of the structure to this one use.

In Figure 1 is shown a casing having a portion l in which is housed a time stamp and preferably a clock, and a portion 2 in which is housed the paper supporting and feeding mechanism. A coin slot 3 for a coin controlled mechanism is located in the face of the casing portion l and an operating button 4 in the casing portion 2, which button is ineffective unless a coin is first deposited in the slot. There is a disclosure opening 5 in the casing portion 2 closed by a shutter 6. This shutter is closed until after a coin is inserted in the machine in order to avoid idle defacement of the forms beneath. There is the usual delivery opening To for coins which are of incorrect denomination or slugs, etc., which internally available only to an authorized per-.

son, and being electrically operated, in this instance, there are no operating handles.

The paper forms (see Figure 6) are supplied in duplicate preferably in packs as shown at 8 from which they pass over rollers 9, I0, H, and.

l2 (which could, if desired, be fixed rods), the last of which is substantially on the level with a writing support l3 held on a frame Hi. The opening 5 in the casing is at the far end of the support l3 from the delivery opening 1 and is close to the roller 12 about which forms are deflected to pass over the writing table. The portion of the form between the rollers II and [2 lies opposite the ribbon l5 of the tim stamp. Thus the parts of the form on which entries are to be made are close together and at the part of the machine removed from the issue opening. This arrangement is of twof old purpose, since it is not only convenient but it permits the required machine entry and the operators entry to be made without any intervening movement of the forms.

Referring to the forms, it will be noted that the uppermost form A has a transfer medium such as a carbon coating located on its back so as to permit of duplicating entries at two parts of the form A to a duplicate form which is carried along with it in the machine. The point where the time entry is to be stamped on the on form and transferred to the other is located at B, and the point where entries are to be made with a lead pencil, for example, on the form A are located at C.

In.my machine the paper feeding and supporting devices are illustrated somewhat diagrammatically consisting of a pair of feed rollers, a drive shaft and electric motor, and a single revolution stop together with friction 'drive. It will normally be preferable to employ one of th available true alignment feeds such as a pin wheel feed with marginally punched forms.

The forms are drawn forward over the writing table by feed wheels l6 and I6a, the uppermost form is delivered and the underneath or duplicate form is stored in a bundle D between the two vertical frame pieces of the paper feed device.

The coin chute terminates in a coin channel I! (Figure 6b) in which is a pivoted finger 58 which, when contacted with a coin, will cause the contacts 99 to engage and complete an electric circuit to the machine. The coin control devic otherwise is also of a customary make and need not be described in detail.

The time wheels 20 are located back of the zone between the paper guide rollers H and i2, and are caused to make an imprint on the paper forms by striking the forms with a platen hammer 26. The entire time operation is not illustrated, as it may also be of some accepted make arranged so that the time wheels show the date and time. It is located entirely behind the paper feed and Writing devices which is very practical and convenient.

The operation of the time stamp and disclosure shutter Upon closure of the coin controlled switch i9, electric current is furnished to 'a solenoid 22 (Figure 7) which may be of any desired type .through a switch device which will be later described. This operation pulls down a solenoid core 23 which, by means of a lever 24, rocks a shaft 25 extending across the machine and held in the writing machine frame. On this shaft is the platen hammer 26 which will then be swungto a position of striking against the paper forms and forcing them against the time wheels, thus imprinting both forms.

There are two collars on the shaft 25, one at 21 and one at 28. A shaft 29 is rotatably mounted in the writing machine frames above the shaft 25 and has two arms 30, 30 thereon. The shutter plate 6 is slidably positioned on the rearward end of the writing machine frame and has depending slotted ears 3|, 3|, which ears are engaged by pins 32 on the arms 30. The result is that when the shaft 29 is rocked by its spring 38 to be noted below, the shutter plate is caused to slide forwardly, thus disclosing the forms supported on the writing table ready to have entries made thereon.

The collar 21 on the shaft 25 has a projection 33 which lies behind a pin 34 held on the projection of a like collar 34a on the shaft 29. Thus the rotation of the shaft 25 will permit the shaft 28 to rotate in opposite direction to the working stroke of shaft 25. The collar 23 has a projection 35 thereon which is used as an interlock to prevent a person from forcing the slide open.

The shaft 25 is normally held in position of rotation opposite to the actuation by the solenoid by means of an arm 36 and spring 31 against a suitable stop 36a. The shaft 29 is held by a spring 38 in a position to cause the shutter to open when the shaft 25 is rocked to make an imprint. As so far described a forced movement of the shutter might cause the printing hammer shaft to operate. This is prevented by the projection 35 on the collar 28 which faces the tall 380. on a collar 39 on the shaft 29 when the shutter is closed and the shaft 25 is in its normal position,

When the rock shaft 25 is operated, the projection 35 swings away from the position shown in Figure 6 so that the shutter is freed for operation, but when the rock shaft is freed and rocks back to starting position this moves the shutter to closed position and also looks it against movement, because the tail will abut against the projection 35 without any rotary effect on the shaft 25.

The solenoid 22 is maintained in operated position during the full cycle of operation of the machine, by the electrical control as will be noted below, although this is not essential.

Also a function of the electrical operation of the paper feed is that it will make one complete revolution of the feed wheels and then stop until it is again placed into operation. As so far described the form is stamped with the time, and the operator is given the disclosed space beneath the shutter for entering data, such as his name, address, birth date and beneficiary on the uppermost form, said entry being transferred to the lowermost form.

The electrical control Referring to Figures 6 and Go, I have shown a magnetic coil and armature 40 and 4 I, said armature serving to close a switch contact element 42 which supplies the current to the solenoid 22'.

The closing of circuit by means of the coin operated switch I! supplies current to the solenoid 40 which then closes the circuit to the solenoid 22 already noted. At the closing of said contact element, the upper end of the armature rides under the latch plate 43 pivotally mounted at 43:: above the magnet coil which has a tail 44 which lies in the path of a pin 45 mounted on an arm 46 on the feed wheel shaft 54 of the paper feed. The result of this arrangement is such that when the contacts 42 are brought together the latch will hold the contacts together as shown in Figure 60, but that as the feed shaft completes its single rotation the pin 45 will strike the latch and release it, whereupon the feed shaft will move by inertia to its stopped position.

It should be noted that the current to the paper feed motor is in a circuit in shunt to the solenoid and controlled by a separate switch. Thus as so far noted, the deposit-of a' correct coin in the coin slot will close the circuit to the time stamp platen operating device simultane-.

ously resulting in an opening of the disclosure shutter, but until a coin is deposited andthe solenoid circuit is closed the shutter cannot be opened, nor can the paper feeding device be operated.

The paper feed device It being understood that various paper feeds electrically operated and adapted to operate by 52 is in shunt and requires a depression of the single revolutions for each release thereof are available on the market, and that I have not attempted to redesign such feed. I have shown as mounted on the feed shaft 54, a pair of wheels It (or a drum l6b as shown in Figure 10), resting upon which is a pressure roller l6a. The shaft 54 is driven by a motor 50, there being a notched disk 5! on the shaft coupling 5) cooperating with a latch 5la (Figure 9) to latch the shaft in its idle position. The shaft 54 is driven through a worm and gear 25a and the coupling 5lb. A friction collar 25b on the shaft 54c of the coupling is spring held in position at 250 so as to bear against the worm. Thus the spring 250 engages the end of the sleeve on which the worm wheel is mounted and the headed screw 25d mounts the spring on the reduced end of the hub of the coupling. A solenoid 52 is energized by current from a snap switch 55 which lies beneath the push button 4. This solenoid applies a switch 53 for the motor and releases the latch 51a which is pivoted to the vertical arm 54a under control of the solenoid, as illustrated The solenoid is energized from the snap switch 55, but the motor requires the operation of the solenoid whereupon its own switch 53 is closed,

and it is this last operation which supplies current to the motor.

Accordingly, in order to release the shaft 54, thus causing a feeding of the paper, one form to be torn off when delivered and the other to be directed into a storage space, it is necessary first to insert a coin into the machine. At this juncture current issupplied to the circuit of the solenoid 22 in which the circuit of solenoid feed button 4 to energize it through switch 55. This solenoid. then releases the latch 5: and closes a second shunt around solenoid 52- to the electric motor through the switch 53.

After one revolution the current is shut off by the member at the other end of the feed shaft. This releases the solenoid 52 which re- 1 leases the latch 5la to stop the feed shaft 54 at a definite point and shuts off the motor snap switch.

It is obvious that other arrangements could be made to accomplish the purpose of preventing a release on the one revolution latch or single revolution clutch, whichever is employed except following insertion of a coin. Otherwise the latch could be released and the paper feed caused to move, thus tampering with the machine and issuing a policy without any time stamped upon it, destroying the sequence of valid issued forms, and perhaps leading the way to some kindof an attempted fraud.

For supplying current to the motor, I have provided as above described a snap switch of which the operating arm 55a.is shown. This arm 55a lies beneath the push button 4. The snap switch being in a circuit in shunt to the main circuit of the machine does not effect an operation of the feed device unless there is current in the main circuit. As aresult, it is necessary to use a coin to close the main circuit before the snap switch will function.

Referring to the wiring diagram, Figure 11, I have indicated the coin switch at l8. When this is closed current is applied to the solenoid 40 which pulls over the switch 42, whereupon this switch is latched by the latch 43. When the switch 42 is closed, current is applied to the solenoid coil 22 which through its core 23 operat, the printing hammer 25. During this period the switch 55 is open so that no current goes to the feeding mechanism. Upon closing of the switch 55, the current passes through solenoid 52, which releases a latch (not indicated on the diagram) on the feed shaft and at the same time closes a switch 53 through lever 54a which applies current to the feed motor 50.

Review of operation to imprint the date near the head of the forms The operator then makes his individual entries on the uppermost form and finally pushes the button 4 to eject his slip. This is accomplished by the feed device which, until the printing has been completed, could not be operated, since the printing hammer operates at once upon insertion of the coin. A duplicate of the issued form is retained in the-machine in the usual way, and the issued form is torn off by the operator. Since the feed device is a single operation device and comes to a latched position at the end of a single rotation no forms can be pulled out of the machine at the end of the feeding stroke. Also,

just before reaching latched position the switch 42 is unlatched and the machine will not function again until a coin is again inserted.

There are no handles to be operated in sequence, no-movements imparted to the forms except that of issuing the completed form. A complete record is kept, and the cycle of operations must be followed as above outlined, which cycle is a natural one anyhow. Thus the operator knows he must put in a coin, the sliding back of the shutter calls his attention to the place where he must write, and at which he can read the form so as to know what to write. In order to get his policy, he will look around for a button which can then be pressed effectively to cause the form to issue. I

The time mechanism is all located back of the paper feed and prints on a part of the form which is bent out of the plane of the'writing table. The length of the device need only be such as to accommodate a form of the required length and completely house it except for the part to be written upon. There is no double movement imparted to the forms, no slip to be put back in the machine, and no way of erroneous operation unless the operator fails to write on the form which the machine calls to his attention actively by the shutter movement-that is brought about only as an accompaniment to the printing of the essential time on the forms to be issued.

Instead of a coin switch, it would be practical of course, to substitute some other initial control means such as a lock to be operated by a key, or even' a push button which'wenld be required to be operated in order to start the sequence.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a controlled switch, a time stamp including a platen hammer, a form strip feeding device including a support for plural copy webs so that they may be written upon, electric means for operating the feeding device, a closure to completely house form strips, said closure having a shutter therein for disclosing part of a form for making entries thereon, and a master switch initially closed under control of said first switch and a member for latching the master switch, latched upon closing of said switch and releasable by the feeding device, means for operating the shutter to cause the same to open, and electrical means supplied through the master switch for simultaneously operating the time stamp platen hammer and opening the shutter, and a separate switch controlled circuit, supplied through the master switch for operating the feeding device electric means.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a time stamp, a. form feeding and supporting mechanism, a housing enclosing the forms from access, a shutter disclosing a portion of a form on the supporting mechanism for entry thereon, electric switch controlled means for simultaneously opening the shutter and operating the time stamp, including means latched upon closing of said switch and releasable by said feeding mechanism, for retaining the form feeding mechanism against operation until the operation of said first named means, and means effective to initiate operation of said feeding mechanism after operation of said switch controlled means.

3. In a machine of, the character described, the combination of a time stamp, a form feeding and supporting mechanism, a housing enclosing the forms from access, a shutter disclosing a portion of a form on the supporting mechanism for entry thereon, electric switch controlled means for simultaneously opening the shutter and operating the time stamp, including means latched upon closing of said switch and releasable by said feeding mechanism, for retaining the form feeding mechanism against operation until the operation of said first named means, means effective to initiate operation of said feeding mechanism after operation of said switch controlled means, and means for guiding plural copy form strips first at an angle to and then over the supporting mechanism, said time stamp including time wheels and a platen hammer, located to engage the forms where they lie at an angle while the balance of the forms lie on the supporting mechanism.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a controlled switch, a time stamp including a platen hammer, a form strip feeding device including a support for plural copy webs so that they may be written upon, electric means for operating the feeding device, a closure to completely house form strips, said closure having a shutter therein for disclosing part of a form for making entries thereon, and a master switch initially closed under control 'of said first switch and a member for latching the master switch, latched upon closing of said switch and releasable by the feeding device, means for operating the shutter to cause the same to own, and electrical means supplied through the master switch for simultaneously c erating the time stamp platen hammer and opening the shutter, and a separate switch controlled circuit, supplied through the master switch for operating the feeding device electric means, means for guiding the webs so that each form thereon when in position lies partly at an angle and partly on the support, said platen hammer for the time stamp located so as to engage the said angled portion.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a time stamp, a form feeding and supporting mechanism, a housing enclosing the forms from access, a shutter disclosing a portion of -a form on the supporting mechanism for entry thereon, electric switch controlled means for simultaneously opening the shutter and operating the time stamp, including means latched upon closing of said switch and releasable by said feeding mechanism, for retaining the form feeding mechanism against operation until the operation of said first named means, means effective to initiate operation of said feeding mechanism after operation of said switch controlled means, the time stamp operating means and shutter operating 'means, and form feeding mechanism having electrically powered operating devices, said electric switch controlled means including a master switch for all devices, and an initial switch for operating the master switch.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a time stamp, a form feeding and supporting mechanism, a housing enclosing the forms from access, a shutter disclosing a portion of a form on the supporting mechanism for entry thereon, electric switch controlled means for simultaneously opening the shutter and operating the time stamp, including means latched upon closing of said switch and releasable by said feeding mechanism, for retaining the form' feeding 'mechanism against operation until the operation of said first named means, means effective to initiate operation of said feeding mechanism after operation of said switch controlled means, and means for guiding plural copy form strips first at an angle to and then over the supporting --mechanism, said time stamp including time wheels and a platen hammer, located to engage the forms where they lie at an angle while the balance ofthe forms lie on the supporting mechanism, the time stamp operating means and shutter operating means, and form feeding device having. electrically powered operating devices, said electric switch controlled means including a master switch for all devices, and an initial switch for operating the master switch.

'7, In a machine of the character described, the combination of a time stamp, a form feeding and supporting mechanism, a housing enclosing the forms from access, a shutter disclosing a portion of a form on the supporting mechanism for entry thereon, initial control means for simultaneously opening the shutter and operating the time stamp upon another portion of the disclosed form, including means latched upon closing of said switchand releasable by said feeding mechanism, for retaining the form feeding mechanism against operation until the operation of said first named means, and means effective to initiate operation of said feeding mechanism after operation of said initial control means.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a time stamp, a form feeding and supporting mechanism, a housing enclosing the forms from access, a shutter disclosing a portion of a form on the supporting mechanism for entry thereon, initial control means for simultaneously opening the shutter and operating the time stamp upon another portion of the disclosed form, including means latched upon closing of said switch and releasable by said feeding mechanism, for retaining the-form feeding mechanism against operation until the operation of said first named means, means effective to initiate operaof a form on the supporting mechanism for entry thereon, initial control means for simultaneously opening the shutter and operating the time stamp upon another portion of the disclosed form, including means-latched upon closing of said switch and releasable by said feeding mechanism, for retaining the form feeding mechanism against operation until the operation of said first named means, means effective to initiate operation of said feeding mechanism after operation of said initial control means, and means for guiding plural copy-form strips first at an angle to and then over the supporting mechanism, said time stamp including time wheels and a platen hammer, located to engage the said disclosed form where it lies at an angle while the balance of the form lies on the supporting mechanism,

said paper feeding mechanism located at the far end of said form from the portion being time stamped, and including a delivery opening through which one of the plural formsis issued.

10. In a machine of the character described,

the combination of an initial control means, a-

time stamp including a platen hammer. a form strip feeding device including a support for plural copy webs so that they may be written upon, electric means for operating the feeding device, a closure to completely house form strips, said closure having a shutter therein for disclosing part of a form for making entries thereon, and a master switch initially closed under control of the initial control means and a member for latching the master switch, latched upon closing of said switch and releasable by the feeding device, means for operating the shutter to cause the same to open,'and electrical means supplied through the master switch for simultaneously operating the time stamp platen hammer and opening the shutter, and a separate switch controlled circuit, supplied through the master switch for operating the feeding device electric means, means for guiding the webs so that each form thereon when in position lies partly at an angle and partly on the combination of initial control, a time stamp the platen hammer of which is electrically operated, a form strip feeding device including a support for plural copy webs to be written upon, electric means for operating the feeding device, a closure to completely house form strips, said closure having a shutter therein for disclosing part of a form for making entries thereon, and a master switch initially closed under control of the initial control means and a member for latching the master switch, latched upon closing of said switch and releasable by the feeding device, means for operating the shutter to cause the same to open, and electrical means supplied tion of said feeding mechanism after operation through the master switch for simultaneously operating the time stamp platen hammer and opening the shutter, and a separate switch controlled circuit, supplied through the master switch for operating the feeding device electric means, means for guiding the webs so that each form thereon when in position lies partly at an angle and partly on' the support, said platen hammer for the time stamp located so as to engage the said angled portion of the same form which is being disclosed through the shutter opening, and the feeding device locatedat the far end of each form when in position from the portion thereof engaged by the platen hammer.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a time stamp, a form feeding and supporting mechanism, a housing enclosing the forms from access, a shutter disclosing a portion of aform on the supporting mechanism for entry thereon, initial control means for simultaneously opening the shutter and operating the time stamp upon another portion of the disclosed form, including means latched upon closing of said switch and releasable by said feeding mechanism against operation until the operation of said first named means, means efiective to ini tiate operation of said feeding mechanism after operation of said initial control means, the time stamp operating means and shutter operating means, and form feeding mechanism having electrically powered operating devices, a master switch for all devices, and a switch operated by the initial control means for operating the master switch.

13. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a time stamp, a form feeding and supporting mechanism, a housing enclosing the forms from access, a shutter disclosing a portion of a form on the supporting mechanism for entry thereon, initial control means for simultaneously opening the shutter and operating the time stamp upon another portion of the disclosed form, including means latched upon closing of said switch and releasable by said feeding mechanism, for retaining the form feeding mechanism against operation until the operation of said first named means, means effective to initiate operation of said feeding mechanism after operation of said initial control means, and means for guiding plural copy form strips first at an angle to and. then over the supporting mechanism, said time stamp including time wheels and a platen hammer, located to engage the respective forms where they lie at an angle while the balance of such form lies on the supporting mechanism, the time stampoperating means and shutter operating means, and form feeding device having electrically powered operating devices, said initialcontrol means including a master switch for all devices, and a switch operated by the initial control means for operating the master switch.

14. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a time stamp, a form feeding and supporting mechanism, a housing enclosing the forms from access, a shutter disclosing a portion of a form on the supporting mechanism for entry thereon, initial control means for simultaneously opening the shutter and operating the time stamp upon another portion of the disclosed form, including means latched upon closing of said switch and releasable by said feeding mechanism, for retaining the form feeding mechanism against operation until the operation of said first named means, means effective to initiate operation of said feeding mechanism after operation of said initial control means, and means for guiding plural copy form strips first at an angle to and then over the supporting mechanism, said time stamp including time wheels and a platen hammer, located to engage the respective forms where they lie at an angle while the balance of such form lies on the supporting mechanism, said paper feeding mechanism located at the far end of the forms from the portion being time stamped, and including a delivery opening through which one of the plural forms is issued, the time stamp operating means and shutter operating means, and form feeding device having electrically powered operating devices, said initial control means including a master switch for all devices, and a switch operated by the initial control means for operating the master switch.

ELMER G. STRECKFUSS. 

